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Aims This study examined the ability of isolated endophytic fungi to confer salt stress tolerance on wheat. Methods and Results Tolerance of pot‐grown wheat in greenhouse to salt stress was measured by estimating emergence rate, growth, relative water content, photosynthetic pigments biosynthesis, Na+ and K+ contents, as well as sugar and proline levels under salt stress in inoculated wheat seedlings. Chaetomium coarctatum (66·7%) and Alternaria chlamydospora (56·7%) improved wheat seedling emergence under moderate salinity (2·5 dS m−1) compared to noninoculated plant (50%). However, under severe salinity (14 dS m−1), wheat emergence was enhanced only by A. chlamydospora. Additionally, A. chlamydospora and Fusarium equiseti enhanced root growth under saline conditions. The tested endophytes exhibited high proline content relative to control. Chaetomium coarctatum showed the highest leaf sugar level under saline stress. Conclusion Endophytic fungi bio‐inoculation improved wheat salt stress tolerance. Significance and Impact of the Study The capacity of endophytic fungi to increase wheat tolerance under salinity stress and to improve growth could be applicable to agriculture.

Summary Salinity is an agricultural and eco-environmental problem worldwide that decreases crop production. Endophytic fungi have been shown to improve plant tolerance to stressful conditions. The purpose of the paper is to examine the efficiency of Embellisia phragmospora, Fusarium equiseti and Fusarium graminearum to improve tolerance of pot-grown barley in greenhouse under different levels of soil salinity (2.5, 8 and 14dS/m) by estimating growth, relative water content, mineral nutrition, photosynthetic pigments biosynthesis, proline and sugar levels. Results showed that E. phragmospora increased barley emergence rate to 66.7% compared to 60% recorded by non-colonized barley under 14dS/m soil salinity. The tested endophytes increased barley root length, shoot and root dry weights under salt stress. Endophytic fungi reduced Na+ accumulation and improved K+ uptake in barely under salinity. Fusarium equiseti and F. graminearum-inoculated barley increased proline content under salinity. Fusarium graminearum-colonized barley showed the highest sugar content under salt stress. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of endophytic fungi bio-inoculation in improvement of barley tolerance to salt stress, which qualify them to be a potent tool to provide substantial benefits to crops for sustainable agriculture.

Medicinal plants offer an important therapeutic resource in treatment of male infertility. We aim to evaluate the possible therapeutic effects of Salvia balansae on metabolic disorders and testicular dysfunction resulting from a high-fat diet (HFD). Antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of S. balansae leaves was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assay. Antidiabetic activity was determined by α-amylase inhibition. In vivo, HFD was administered in Wistar rats for 18 weeks and aqueous extract of S. balansae for the last 6 weeks (200 mg/Kg of body weight/day). At the term of experimentation, testosterone and some plasma parameters were analyzed and removed testes were subjected to a histomorphometric study. Our results show high levels of phenolic components in aqueous extract of S. balansae and significant antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. HFD increases body weight, causes type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, liver failure and inflammation. Also, HFD decreases testosterone and alters testis histological structure (seminiferous tubular degeneration, impaired spermatogenesis and interstitial fibrosis). Treatment of HFD rats with extract of S. balansae normalizes body weight and plasma parameters, increases testosterone and regenerates testicular structure and function. In summary, S. balansae could reduce metabolic complications induced by HFD and serve the basis for developing a new therapy for testicular dysfunction.